Photo Gallery: Big Cats

Lion, Kenya

Photograph by John Eastcott and Yva Momatiuk

Lions are threatened throughout most of their African range. But nowhere is their condition as perilous as in Kenyan Maasailand, where this large male was photographed. Lions there, which number fewer than 150, are under imminent threat of extinction from Maasai herdsmen thought to be retaliating against prides who prey on their cattle.

Big Cats Initiative

National Geographic is working to avert the extinction of lions, cheetahs, and other big cats with the Big Cats Initiative, a comprehensive program that supports innovative projects. Learn how you can help save these animals.

Lionesses and Cubs

Photograph by Beverly Joubert

Three female lions and a pair of cubs rest in the grass in Botswana's Okavango Delta. Females remain with a pride for life and often have to defend their cubs from males, who will kill young lions when taking over another male's territory.

Big Cats Initiative

National Geographic is working to avert the extinction of lions, cheetahs, and other big cats with the Big Cats Initiative, a comprehensive program that supports innovative projects. Learn how you can help save these animals.

Male Lions, Botswana

Photograph by Beverly Joubert

Two young male lions lie in the grass of Botswana's Okavango Delta. A pride of lions may be headed by a single male or a coalition of up to seven males who cooperatively defend the group's territory.

Big Cats Initiative

National Geographic is working to avert the extinction of lions, cheetahs, and other big cats with the Big Cats Initiative, a comprehensive program that supports innovative projects. Learn how you can help save these animals.

Lioness, Botswana

A female lion in Botswana's Okavango Delta stretches as other members of the pride lounge nearby. Pride size can range from 2 to 18 females and cubs, all related to one another.

Big Cats Initiative

National Geographic is working to avert the extinction of lions, cheetahs, and other big cats with the Big Cats Initiative, a comprehensive program that supports innovative projects. Learn how you can help save these animals.

Lion, Botswana

Photograph by Beverly Joubert

An adult male lion walks through grasslands in Botswana's Okavango Delta. Biologists think males evolved their impressive manes in part to provide neck protection during fights, among other reasons.

Big Cats Initiative

National Geographic is working to avert the extinction of lions, cheetahs, and other big cats with the Big Cats Initiative, a comprehensive program that supports innovative projects. Learn how you can help save these animals.

Mountain Lion

Photograph by Jim & Jamie Dutcher

Mountain lions do not like to share their territory and are constantly on the lookout for invaders.

Big Cats Initiative

National Geographic is working to avert the extinction of lions, cheetahs, and other big cats with the Big Cats Initiative, a comprehensive program that supports innovative projects. Learn how you can help save these animals.

Bengal Tiger and Cub

A mother Bengal tiger and her cub rest in the tall grass of a meadow. Tiger cubs remain with their mothers for two to three years before dispersing to find their own territory.

Big Cats Initiative

National Geographic is working to avert the extinction of lions, cheetahs, and other big cats with the Big Cats Initiative, a comprehensive program that supports innovative projects. Learn how you can help save these animals.

Cheetah

Photograph by Chris Johns

Sharp eyesight and raw speed make the cheetah a formidable hunter.

Big Cats Initiative

National Geographic is working to avert the extinction of lions, cheetahs, and other big cats with the Big Cats Initiative, a comprehensive program that supports innovative projects. Learn how you can help save these animals.

Jaguar

Photograph by Joel Sartore

Jaguars, the largest of South America's big cats, once roamed much of the Americas. Today they are found in only a few remote regions.

Big Cats Initiative

National Geographic is working to avert the extinction of lions, cheetahs, and other big cats with the Big Cats Initiative, a comprehensive program that supports innovative projects. Learn how you can help save these animals.

Clouded Leopard

Somewhere between the small cats, which can purr, and the big cats, which can roar, are clouded leopards. These rare cats make their home in the tropical forests of Southeast Asia.

Big Cats Initiative

National Geographic is working to avert the extinction of lions, cheetahs, and other big cats with the Big Cats Initiative, a comprehensive program that supports innovative projects. Learn how you can help save these animals.

African Lion

Photograph by Chris Johns

Fiercely protective of their prides, or family units, male lions patrol a vast territory normally covering about 100 square miles (260 square kilometers).

Big Cats Initiative

National Geographic is working to avert the extinction of lions, cheetahs, and other big cats with the Big Cats Initiative, a comprehensive program that supports innovative projects. Learn how you can help save these animals.

Asian Lion

Photograph by Mattias Klum

Only 200 or so Asian lions exist in the wild. A former royal reserve, India's Gir Forest, is the last home of this lion subspecies.

Big Cats Initiative

National Geographic is working to avert the extinction of lions, cheetahs, and other big cats with the Big Cats Initiative, a comprehensive program that supports innovative projects. Learn how you can help save these animals.

Snow Leopard

Photograph by Michael Nichols

Native to the Central Asian mountains, the snow leopard is a rare sight, with only about 6,000 left in the wild. They are hunted for their beautiful, warm fur and for their organs, which are used in traditional Chinese medicine.

Big Cats Initiative

National Geographic is working to avert the extinction of lions, cheetahs, and other big cats with the Big Cats Initiative, a comprehensive program that supports innovative projects. Learn how you can help save these animals.

Cheetah Mother and Cubs

Photograph by Chris Johns

Cheetah mothers typically give birth to a litter of three cubs, all of which will stay with her for one and a half to two years before venturing off on their own. When interacting with her cubs, cheetah mothers purr, just like domestic cats.

Big Cats Initiative

National Geographic is working to avert the extinction of lions, cheetahs, and other big cats with the Big Cats Initiative, a comprehensive program that supports innovative projects. Learn how you can help save these animals.

Siberian Tigers

Photograph by Michael Nichols

Of the three remaining species of tigers, Siberian tigers are the largest. While there are only 400 to 500 left in the wild, the population is considered stable, and conservation programs are introducing captive-born tigers to the wild.

Big Cats Initiative

National Geographic is working to avert the extinction of lions, cheetahs, and other big cats with the Big Cats Initiative, a comprehensive program that supports innovative projects. Learn how you can help save these animals.